“Biden Shouldn’t Be the One to Make That Decision” – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
3:55 PM – Wednesday, December 4, 2024
On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, dismissed the proposal for an additional $24 billion in aid to Ukraine, stating he preferred to wait for the decision of President-elect Donald Trump on the issue.
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The request followed a submission by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget for more aid to Ukraine, reportedly including $8 billion for weapons acquisitions and an additional $16 billion for repairing and replacing U.S. military equipment impacted by the ongoing conflict.
“As anticipated and as I expressed to you all weeks prior to the election, if Donald Trump is elected, it will alter the dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and we are witnessing that change now,” Johnson remarked.
“It is not Joe Biden’s place to make this decision at present, given that we have a newly elected president. We will await the direction of the new commander in chief on this matter, so I do not foresee any funding for Ukraine occurring at this time,” he added.
The recent request from the White House aimed to secure additional support for Ukraine through 2026, in anticipation of the incoming Trump administration, which is inclined to resolve the conflict through diplomatic negotiations.
“My goal is to facilitate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine to halt the ongoing suffering – a situation that has resulted in far greater loss of life than what is publicly reported. I want to see it resolved before I officially assume office, as there are far too many casualties and cities in devastation. We must address this issue, and I will ensure it is handled,” Trump declared.
In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserts that “the active combat phase of the war” could conclude if Ukraine were granted membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Nevertheless, many Americans expressing concerns over potential funding deficits have argued that continuing assistance to the Ukraine-Russia war is ultimately unproductive for the U.S. Some have accused President Zelenskyy of recklessly risking lives in his pursuit of NATO membership and reclaiming Crimea, which Russia has firmly stated will never be relinquished.
“To put an end to the active war, we need to place the territories of Ukraine under NATO protection that we currently control. We need to act quickly. Following this, Ukraine can diplomatically regain its remaining territories,” Zelenskyy noted.
Trump’s campaign has centered on bringing an end to the Ukraine conflict, likely favoring a solution through negotiation. His special envoy to the conflict, Keith Kellog, has suggested that withholding aid to Ukraine may be a strategy if its leadership does not engage in peaceful discussions instead of ongoing violence.
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